Drowning Prevention & Swim Safety Tips For Kids (Infographic)

In honor of National Drowning Prevention Month, we thought we would deviate a little from the usual pool how-to topics and delve into possibly the most important how-to topic of all: how to keep your kids safe from drowning and injury.

As a dad of two young kids myself, you can imagine the fears and concerns I had when we first decided to install a pool in our backyard.

Because in case you didn’t know, there are about 10 drowning deaths a day in the U.S. alone.

Those are some scary statistics, my friend!

But that is why I read everything I could get my hands on and still make swimming safety priority number one in our pool.

You can be sure that I don’t take it lightly and would never own a pool if I didn’t feel sure I could keep my family safe.

And I know you feel the same way.

That’s what this guide is all about.

Here are some facts about drowning that will hopefully get your attention right off the bat.

Now that you know all the scary facts, let’s talk about how we can arm ourselves with the proper tools and information to keep your kids safe.

When someone’s heart stops beating and the blood stops flowing, they’ll lose consciousness within about 15 seconds.

Then, in another 30 to 60 seconds, they stop breathing, and are in danger of damaging their brain irreversibly.

This is where cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, comes in.

CPR, when executed properly, is designed to get the heart pumping again and keep oxygen flowing to the brain and other organs. 

But be sure to ask for a class that includes child and infant CPR if you have children. The procedures are different for children and adults. 

Lifeguards are well-trained to recognize the signs of drowning, and that’s because they’re not always as obvious as you think. 

The most important part of pool safety is educating your kids to take care of themselves in the water.

#1. Start Them Early

You can also enroll them in “Mommy and Me Swim Classes” that will teach you more about infant safety and get them ready to start learning to swim.

Don’t get overconfident in their abilities, though.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that they are not developmentally able to learn to swim effectively until about 3 or 4 years of age.

#2. Enroll Them In Swim Lessons

But DO enroll them as soon as they are able.

Your local YMCA or public pool facility will probably offer swim lessons for every age group starting at 3 years old. 

Enroll them every year while they are young to give them the best swimming advantage and help them brush up on their rules and basics before swim season.

#3. Teach Them Basic Water Safety

After your child can swim fairly well, you should be testing them on these 5 basic skills every single year.

Make sure your child can:

#4. Teach Them To Always Swim With An Adult

Once your child becomes more comfortable with their swimming skills, they'll probably feel like they can swim alone, but drill into their heads that this is never acceptable.

Teach them to never step foot into a body of water without an adult, no matter how good a swimmer they become.

On top of drowning, there are other things you should be concerned with as well.

There are all kinds of serious injuries that can occur around and in the pool. Some can lead to drowning, and others just to pain.

But keeping everyone safe around the pool means preventing all kinds of injury whenever possible.

#1 Diving Is Dangerous

Diving can lead to serious injury or death if not done properly. In fact, about 800 spinal cord injuries occur from diving each year.

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis can occur when the diver miscalculates the depth of the pool while diving from any spot.

So, how deep should a pool be for diving safety?

The American Red Cross says that a pool should be a minimum of 9 feet deep for headfirst diving.

That means that an above-ground pool is NEVER safe for diving.

If you do install a pool that deep, make sure everyone in your family is well-trained before they attempt diving. Safe diving is a skill and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

#2. Beware Medical Conditions

If your child has asthma, seizures, or other health concerns that may make cause him to lose consciousness or stop breathing, it's even more important that you never leave his side.

It’s also a good idea to speak to their pediatrician about safety measures and precautions you should take in the pool.

#3. Watch Your Water Temperatures

Water temperatures matter. In fact, cold water can kill you in less than a minute. (Be sure to invest in a good pool thermometer).

But the real shocker is what is considered cold.

For us everyday swimmers, the ideal pool temps are anywhere between 77°F and 82°F, though some resorts tend to keep the waters at a balmy 84°F. 

#4. Swim At Pools With Lifeguards

If you choose to take your kids to a public pool, choose one where lifeguards on duty.

In addition to your own presence with your children, it doesn’t hurt to have an extra set of trained eyes on the situation.

#5. No Horseplay

No one wants to be the parent who sucks all the fun out of swimming, but allowing too much horseplay can lead to serious issues.

Not only can children injure each other by causing too much water to get in the lungs, the movement and noise could actually cause you not to notice.

Keep the horseplay to a minimum and absolutely forbid dunking.

#6. Be Aware Of Pool Surroundings

You probably remember your parents yelling at you as a kid to “walk, don’t run!” around the pool. And with good reason.

Water on any surface makes it a little more slippery and unstable, so the risk of falling greatly multiplies around the pool.

If you have concrete surroundings, you need to be especially vigilant about outside pool activity, but even wooden surfaces can cause you to lose footing if you’re not careful.

Channel your own parents’ voices you’ve been pushing down if you must, post signs along the fences, or just remove pool privileges if they still refuse to listen. 

Pool safety is way too important to not stay on top of it.

#7. No Gum Allowed!

This rule isn’t just to keep stuff out of your pool, it’s also to prevent choking hazards.

If you’re eating or chewing gum while swimming, you run the risk of getting a big gulp of pool water in your mouth that accidentally washes it down your throat before you’re ready.

Not to mention the fact that laughing and playing in general can cause you to choke on anything you are chewing.

#8. No Night Swimming

Night swimming might seem like a lot of fun and if the adults want to take a midnight dip, that is up to them.

But for children, it’s just a bad idea.

It makes it difficult to see ladders and exits and gage what depth of water you’re in.

And it makes it difficult for anyone else to see them should they have an accident or accidentally get in over their heads. 

Just lock it up and turn on your pool alarm at night. It’s just not worth the risk.

#9.No Alcohol With The Kids Around

Having a pina colada by the pool might be great for adults having a relaxing day, but forego the booze altogether if you’re monitoring the kids.

Impaired judgment can cause delayed reactions to unexpected emergencies.

#10.Beware Drain Entrapment

Entrapment can happen when a child or even an adult gets stuck on an uncovered drain.

And entanglement can occur when someone’s hair, swimming suit or jewelry gets tangled up in a ladder, drain or other pool equipment.

Both of these can cause drowning. But there’s more!

Sitting on a drain without the proper cover can even cause disembowelment.

Make sure you take the proper precautions to keep these tragedies from affecting your family.

#11. Don't Forget The Sunscreen!

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “Increasing intermittent sun exposure in childhood and during one’s lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.”

This might not be a drowning hazard, but it's certainly a serious health concern.

Make sure everyone always wears a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and re-apply regularly. Their future health depends on it!

#12. Remove Your Pool Cover!

Never swim with the pool cover partially on the pool. Too many things can go wrong! 

Your child can get tangled up in or swim underneath the cover and not be able to get out, or it can blow back over the pool with a strong wind. 

Remove it completely and put it away every time you swim.

No one puts in a pool thinking someone will drown or get hurt, but unfortunately it does happen.

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself and your whole family on every detail of pool safety and make sure everyone is the best swimmer they can be.

And don’t neglect to immediately install pool safety devices such as a fence and pool alarm.

Your family can absolutely enjoy many years of poolside fun and entertainment, just don’t ever allow yourself to get too comfortable to be cautious.

Your family’s lives depend on it!